Keystone Downs New Jersey 5-1; Stayin’ Alive

BRISTOL, Conn. — The Keystone Little League team, after a shaky 1-1 start at the Mid-Atlantic championships, put it all together today, strong in every aspect of the game in a 5-1 elimination contest win over Freehold Township of New Jersey.

Keystone rode the right arm of Kaden Falls to the win. On in relief of starter and winner Ryan Thompson, Falls pitched four innings of 2-hit ball, striking out seven and walking none.

Meanwhile Keystone kept punching away at three different New Jersey pitchers. Brady Bendik, who had another 3-hit game, opened the second with a single and scored on a double from Aaron Miller. Freehold answered with one in the bottom of the inning but Keystone would regain the lead for good in the top of the third. After a walk and singles from Falls and Cy Probst, Bendik singled to left for the go-ahead run.

The game stayed 2-1 Keystone into the fifth and it was Bendik who provided an insurance run with his third hit of the game and his third homer of the tournament, 3-1 Keystone at that point (Bendick is now 6-for-10 with three homeruns through three games at Bristol).Two more came in the top of the sixth, this with two outs: Aidan Major singled and Cayde McCloskey lofted a 2-run homer well over the centerfield fence to make it 5-1.

Falls meanwhile was all but unhittable. And Thompson, who had pitched sparingly in the Keystone playoff run, gave his team two needed innings of 1-run, 1-hit ball to keep things close. It was the third game in three days for the boys in blue and pitching options were limited by Little League pitch-count rules.

Keystone ended with 10 hits; their best showing at Bristol. Bendik had his three with two RBIs, Major had two singles and a walk; McCloskey his 2-RBI homer; Falls with a single, Probst with a single, Blade Myers with a single and Miller with his RBI double.

The win keeps Keystone (15-2) afloat in a bid for a trip to the Little League World Series. After an off-day Wednesday Keystone will play Milton, Del. in another elimination game Thursday at 7 p.m. The Delaware team (8-3) won 5-2 over Maryland in an earlier elimination game today. Keystone would have to win Thursday and another game Friday to earn a berth in the title game next Sunday night.

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